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ChristineM
New Member
18 Posts
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 Posted -
10/05/2008
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03:24
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My grandfather's name was Thomas Henry Cowgill. He was born in Burnley abt 1883 and died there in 1948. He had at least four siblings: William, Mary, Harriet and Ruth. He was named after his father, who died before he was born. His mother's name was Sarah born in Manchester in 1845.
This is all I know about the family. My mother didn't know her father's family very well because my grandmother looked down her nose at her in-laws. In fact Mum didn't even know her grandparent's first names. I found this out since her death.
Any info about this family would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Christine M.
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ChristineM
New Member
18 Posts
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Posted - 25/11/2011 : 17:08
Hi Debbie,
Have you ever been to Burnley? I have been there twice since 1956. The last time was in 1975 with my husband and the 2 kids we had then. We were on our way to Mauritius, my husband's birthplace. We were in Burnley for 4 days to visit my aunt. We might be tempted to go again except that accommodation in the UK is expensive. Also I can't see my husband wanting to go traipsing around cemeteries. He has no interest in family history at all, not even in his own.
I didn't know that Thomas (Snr's) father's name was also Thomas. I am also surprised to learn that his father was a manager of a cotton factory when his son was a gas work's labourer. My grandfather started out as a coal miner.
Apparently, that before Sarah died she lived in a workhouse. I was surprised to learn that workhouses still existed as late as 1916.
It never occurred to me that Edward Wood might be Sarah's son, rather than her son-in-law. Who knows!
Anyway, nice hearing from you.
Christine |
moh
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Posted - 26/11/2011 : 12:11
Who are your Harrison ancestors Debbie?
Say only a little but say it well |
Debbt
New Member
24 Posts
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Posted - 27/11/2011 : 08:26
Hi Christine,
No, I haven't been to Lancashire. We were in England earlier this year but went west and south. Maybe one day as my mother's family were firmly entrenched in the Barnoldswick, Burnley and Nelson areas.
I don't think it was unusual for people to change occupations over time with the upturn in one industry and the downturn in others. The information that Thomas Cowgill Snr. was a manager in a cotton mill came from Thomas and Sarah's wedding certificate. Who know how accurate it is. Thomas Snr. was dead at that time so maybe Thomas Jnr. embellished.
Hi Moh,
Nice to meet you. Is that a balloon or flower you are wearing. Very cute either way.
My HARRISONS are as follows (from my Grandfather): Edgar 1909 (brother Arthur, 1907), John William, abt.1878, James Thomas, abt. 1853, John Harrison abt. 1829. My grandfather and his father were born in Barnoldswick but the two generations before that were from Rochdale.
James Thomas had a number of children, many of whom ended up in the Nelson area. My mother recalls her mother talking about shopping in Nelson??
Debbt
(Researching Harrison, Manley, Cowgill and Breward) |
Gloria
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Posted - 27/11/2011 : 10:53
My husband's mother was a Rawlinson and their ancestors were mill owners in Burnley-----I will see if there is a connection with a Sarah.
I'd be dangerous with a brain!!!!!
www.briercliffesociety.co.uk |
moh
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Posted - 27/11/2011 : 13:30
Ok - my hubby's Harrisons began in Gisburn and went up the Dales and ended up in Trawden (and now Burnley!!)
Say only a little but say it well |
Debbt
New Member
24 Posts
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Posted - 28/11/2011 : 02:24
Thank you, Gloria. Any light you can shed on the Rawlinsons would be wonderful. Sarah Wood's birth was registered in Manchester in the mid 1840s. According to the census Joshua and Sarah Rawlinson were her grandparents.
Moh,
Elisha Harrison (born 1798) was baptised in Barnoldswick (in 1806) His son, John (1824, sorry said 1829 before) seems to have been born in Newchurch in Pendle and baptised at St. Barts. in Colne. He married an Ann Ellis(daughter of James) from Trawden in 1845. Maybe they crossed paths....
Edited by - Debbt on 28/11/2011 06:07:02
Debbt
(Researching Harrison, Manley, Cowgill and Breward) |
ChristineM
New Member
18 Posts
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Posted - 28/11/2011 : 19:00
Hi Debbie,
I should have thought of the connection myself between Sarah Wood and Edward Wood. Quite likely he was her son, born before her marriage to Joshua. It happened frequently enough on my father's Briercliffe side.
thanks,
Christine
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Debbt
New Member
24 Posts
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Posted - 29/11/2011 : 02:43
I think the connection could be made in a number of ways - that was one just one guess. If she married Joshua in 1809sh then she would have been young to have been married and widowed. Another alternative is that Edward could have been Sarah's illegitimate son. I thought it might also be possible that the information on the Census was not quite right and perhaps Ann and Sarah were great nieces rather than grand daughters. The list goes on....
Despite comparing the IGI and Ancestry I can't marry things up...
Debbt
(Researching Harrison, Manley, Cowgill and Breward) |
ChristineM
New Member
18 Posts
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Posted - 03/12/2011 : 03:53
Hi Debbie,
There are some facts about our ancestors we will never know in our lifetime. It suits me at the moment to believe that Sarah gave birth to Edward before her marriage to Joshua, who might even have been his father. However, if Edward was Ann and Sarah's father, the question remains: who was their mother? There were two girls named Ann Wood and Sarah Wood who were born in Hulme, Manchester in the correct years. Hulme, apparently, was place notorious for poverty in the 19th century. Edward and his wife might have died from some disease. Who knows!
Meanwhile, I'm still getting my head around the notion that there were 3 Thomas Cowgills, not 2.
Thanks for the info.
Christine |
A Burnley Cowgill family
